Cornish Pirates player Jack Andrew to make his 100th appearance as they take on Nottingham at Mennaye Field

Jack Andrew of Cornish Pirates receives congratulations from his team-mates after the penalty try is awarded during the Greene King IPA RFU Championship match between Cornish Pirates and Bristol at the Mennaye Field, Penzance, Cornwall. (Image: Simon Bryant/PPAUK)

The Cornish Pirates will be looking to put their “nearly men” tag of this season behind them when they take on Nottingham at the Mennaye Field on Sunday (2.30pm) in their last Greene King IPA Championship game for three weeks.

Last Sunday’s last gasp 28-26 loss at Yorkshire Carnegie, was just the latest match in which the Pirates have suffered an agonising defeat by only a handful of points.

In fact, their four defeats in five games have been by a total of only 11 points, so they will be aiming to get what would be only their second victory of the season against a Nottingham side fresh from a 31-28 home win over newly-promoted Hartpury.

That result - their third win in five games - took them to fifth in the Championship, with the Pirates tenth, but only five points behind Sunday’s visitors.

The match will be the last Championship fixture for the Pirates, ahead of two British & Irish Cup matches in October, first away to Hartpury and then at home to Ulster A on Sunday October 22, before resuming league action at Doncaster Knights on the 28th of this month.

For Sunday’s game against a Nottingham side they did the “double” over last season, the Pirates will be without centre and captain Nicolas De Battista, who suffered a knock against Yorkshire Carnegie, though he is fit enough to sit on the bench.

Toby May will skipper the side from full-back, with New Zealander Dan Koster wearing the Number 13 shirt.

It will be an extra special day for prop Jack Andrew, who returns to the starting line-up in place of Christian Judge for what will be his 100th appearance for the Pirates.

The other change sees Toby Freeman take over from Rupert Cooper in the second row, with Cooper moving into the back row in place of Alex Cheesman, who had to go off in the first half of the Carnegie game with a knee problem.

Former Redruth scrum-half, Australian Angus Taylor, will make his Pirates debut if he comes on from the bench.

Cornish Pirates coach Alan Paver is expecting another tough test for a Pirates side whose only win this season was in their last home outing when they beat bottom club Rotherham Titans 63-47.

He said: “Playing against well prepared teams every game is tough and on a given day, it just comes down to a few decisions that can go either for or against you.

“Sunday’s game will provide another test, as our opponents from Nottingham are making terrific strides, play a very good brand of rugby and move the ball well across the park.

“The challenge is one we will again respect, because they are extremely well coached and have players who have responded.

“However, playing at home it will be up to us to create and apply pressure in the right areas, and importantly capitalise on chances that arise.”

Nottingham head coach Ian Costell has made just one change to the team that started the win over Hartpury, with hooker Jimmy Stevens returning to the No2 jersey, with Ben Brownlie dropping to the bench,

Prop David Langley is the only other addition to Costello’s squad, as one Wasps dual-registered forward replaces another on the bench, with Will Stuart missing out.